Search and rescue volunteer gets honorary degree

North Shore Rescue team leader Tim Jones was granted an honorary Doctor of Laws by Capilano University on Monday.

Jones, a paramedic and the public face of North Shore Search and Rescue, has been a part of the volunteer team for several decades, rescuing dozens of people from the North Shore's backcountry trails.

"I represent the team and this really is on behalf of North Shore Rescue, I feel," Jones said. "They have to identify an individual and I feel greatly honoured but I feel really this is shared with all my teammates."

He says he was taken by surprise when Capilano University called to tell him he would be getting an honorary degree.

"We were playing telephone tag there for awhile, I thought they wanted me to assign one of our members for a wilderness safety lecture, and we weren't getting back to them fast enough," Jones said.

"I didn't realize what they were looking for, and it took me by surprise and again, I feel very honoured by this."

Jones was recognized along with Sto:lo First Nation educator, writer and story-teller Jo-ann Archibald and former United Nations ambassador Stephen Lewis.

All three received honorary doctorates during convocation ceremonies at the North Vancouver campus.

Last year, Jones was honoured with the Order of B.C. for his search and rescue work.